Maori Welcome in Tokyo

Watch clips from a Maori performance welcoming Tokyo residents to the screening of River Queen at the New Zealand Film Festival 2006, held in Roppongi on May 11-14.

River Queen by Vincent Ward stars Samantha Morton, Kiefer Sutherland, Cliff Curtis and Temuera Morrison and is one of my favourite movies so I was excited that it could be viewed by a Japanese audience.

I grew up in Wanganui, near where the movie was shot in New Zealand, and was so happy to be able to show my friends places I love, like Kai Iwi Beach and the Whanganui River (which stole the show). Its well worth the journey. I go every year!

The Kamakura Squirrel

A cheeky squirrel looks for food from visitors to the Great Buddha at Kamakura, set to the song "Anymore" by Sonny Combs and Kitty Kat Rodeo, courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network (music.podshow.com).

The squirrel showed no fear, even when a nearby pigeon was being chased away by some girls, and tried to climb a guy looking for food.

To see or feed the squirrels, head towards the back of the Great Buddha complex at Kamakura.

Great Buddha at Kamakura

We take a look at the Great Buddha at Kamakura, set to the song "Dancefloor Lover" by Electrobuddha, courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network (music.podshow.com).

Kamakura is a very popular tourist area about one hour south of Tokyo and just over the hill from where I live in Yokohama.

According to Wikipedia, Kamakura was the capital of Japan from the 12th through 14th centuries during the Kamakura Shogunate. The Great Buddha was constructed in 1252 and used to be inside a temple, but a tsunami in 1498 destoyed the temple, so it has been out in the open ever since.